"It Is Completed"

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13

When the Lord is doing a work, He doesn't do it "half way". He takes care of every detail and when it is finished it is completely finished. At creation He did not rest until He had finished creating everything. He worked for six days and then rested when there was nothing else that could be added to what He had done. Everything that mankind would need to live was provided-- everything. At the cross, Jesus declared, "It is finished". Everything that was needed to bring redemption to mankind was provided, nothing was left lacking. Jesus lost so much blood on the way to the cross that it is amazing He even made it to the cross. He should have died before He made it up Calvary's hill, but He didn't. Then He hung on the cross for hours before He died. Why? Because there was still more in the cup for Him to drink. The full price had not been paid. But once it was He declared, "It is finished" and bowed His head and died. When He did, the price for our sins had been paid in full. There was nothing left to be done. He didn't stop short and provide only 99% of our salvation. He provided all that it would take.

In the situation that you are going through, He won't stop short of completing it. He won't meet only a portion of the need. He won't give you part of the answer. He won't leave it unfinished. He will take care of it all. And when He does, it will all be taken care of- all of it. He is the Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher, the First and the Last, and everything in between. He completes what He starts and it is not finished until He completes it. When my daughter was a little girl, we bought her some presents that needed to be assembled. We never gave her the gifts unless the assembly was completed. We didn't give her a bicycle that had the frame put together but no wheels. We didn't give her a trampoline that had no mat. I didn't cook her meals and leave half of what was put on her plate raw. The Lord is the same, He doesn't give it to us until it is completed.

Don't get discouraged if you are in the middle of a trial and you think it will never end. It will end when God has completely finished it by taking care of everything that needs to be done. We need to learn how to wait because the delay may be because He is putting the finishing touches on it.

Have a great day. The Lord doesn't stop short of completion. When He says it is finished, it is completely finished.... there is nothing left to do, it has all been taken care of.

For further reading:
Genesis 2:1-3
John 19:30
Hebrews 12:2
Matthew 5:18

"It's In Your Mouth"

"The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." Isaiah 50:4

Needy people are all around us. And if it is possible and within our ability to do so we should do what we can to help meet that need. Although we are not always able to meet people's material needs or their financial needs, there is an area of "need" that we can all meet all the time. It's the needs that are met through a spoken word.

Sometimes people need a word of comfort and hope. Sometimes it's a word of encouragement or mercy. Sometimes they need to hear the words of salvation. Sometimes it's a word to help point them in the right direction. Whatever they need to "hear" that will meet their need, we can rest assured that the Lord will give us the right word to say at the right time. The excuse of "I don't know what to say" doesn't apply because we are promised that when we are "delivered up" that the Spirit will speak for us.

Think about it: if the Lord could put the money that was needed to pay the disciple's taxes in the "mouth" of a fish; if He could put the warning that a wayward prophet needed in the "mouth" of a donkey; if He could put the food that Elijah needed in the "mouth" of a raven-- can't He put the word that is needed to touch someone else's life in your "mouth" as well.

When the need arises that can be filled by what you say, just remember that the Lord will give you what you need at that moment by putting a word in your mouth to meet their need.

Have a great day. What someone else needs is often found in your mouth.

For further reading:
Numbers 22:28
Matthew 17:24-27; 10:19
1 Kings 17:4-6
Romans 10:8
Proverbs 25:11

"Entrusted With The Gospel"

"But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." 1 Thessalonians 2:4

"...to be put in trust with the gospel..." I am so amazed that the Lord has entrusted His work on earth to His followers. He has entrusted us with the gospel and the task of sharing it with others. He didn't entrust the gospel, this great message of salvation and hope of eternal life, into the hands of angels but into the hands of men.

The thing that makes it so amazing is that He entrusted it into the hands of imperfect people- those who are "weak and foolish"; creatures that were made from "dust".

While it is amazing, it is also comforting to know that I don't have to wait until I become "perfect" or reach some higher level of "spirituality" in order to qualify to share the good news of salvation through Jesus with others. "A little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6) I may not be some great Bible theologian, I may not understand all the mysteries of the Bible, I may not have a deep revelation and insight into all that is printed in its pages, but I do have a testimony of how I was once and sinner, how I was in darkness, how I was dead in trespasses and sin and Jesus came and touched my life and gave me eternal life. Every born again believer can share this message.

If you are one of those who think they have to "get it all together" or learn all there is to know about God before He can use you to speak to others about this wonderful salvation, be encouraged this morning that this is not the case. If you have a testimony of how the Lord has saved you, then you need to testify/share it with others.

Have a great day. It is amazing that the Lord uses imperfect people to share His good news, and encouraging to know that we don't have to wait until we are perfect to do so.

For further reading:
1 Timothy 1:11-13
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Psalm 103:14

"I Am Waiting To Hear, Lord"

"And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah." Jeremiah 42:7

This morning I have prayed and prayed, sought and sought the Lord and waited, to get the word from the Lord to share with you, and still haven't received it. Some mornings it is so easy- it just seems to "flow" and I have trouble keeping up with it to make sure I get it all written down. Other mornings it comes line upon line, here a little and there a little. Then there are mornings like this one-- it seems as if I should just send a note saying, "Have a great day", with nothing else attached and forget it.

I know that you are like I am, I want the Lord to answer me instantly without any waiting, without any struggling to hear. But it doesn't always happen like that. Oh, the Lord does and will answer, it just might not be in our timing or when we want it. He may choose to have us "be still and wait". He may be waiting to answer us so that we will learn how to persevere, wait patiently, exercise our faith, or seek Him. Then again, it may have nothing to do with us but He is arranging things in such a way where it will reach someone else at just the right time.

The reason behind why He waits at times- waits to give us an answer, waits to open doors, waits to fulfill His promise- is not the focus. We may never know why, and even if we did we probably still wouldn't understand it. The main thing is that we learn to trust Him. Trust that He knows best, that His ways are perfect, that He is in control, He knows what He is doing, His timing is always right and He sees the whole picture.

Are you waiting to hear from Him today? You aren't alone, we all are. Don't give up, keep waiting. Keep drawing near to Him. Keep seeking His face. Keep your ears open and attentive to His voice. He will speak to you and it will be at just the right time.

Have a great day. When the Lord chooses to speak is up to Him, we just need to learn how to wait to hear.

For further reading:
Jeremiah 42:1-7
Job 14:15
Psalm 40:1

"Content"

"Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am." Philippians 4:11 (Amplified Bible)

Several of you contacted me this week wondering why you weren't receiving the devotional.  Because of Hurricane Ida I had no electricity.  So, I was without power and internet for several days.  

There were several things that I learned through this time-- namely about being content.  I was amazed at the peace and contentment that I had through the days of no electricity.  It was truly the grace of God. He can give you peace and contentment even through storms (physical and spiritual ones).  We tend to be anxious about too much.  We tend to complain about too much.  We tend to think that life evolves around ourselves and everything in life should "cater" to us.  If you have lived very long you have discovered that isn't the case.  

It was my week off from work and I had all these plans of what I wanted to do with my days.  None of my plans came to fruition.  The storm, no power, etc. stopped that from happening.  This is why we should "take no thought for tomorrow", and why we should keep in mind that if "the Lord is willing we will do this or that".  None of us hold the future.  None of us knows what the future holds.  We don't know the end before the beginning.  We don't know what tomorrow holds in store for us.  Therefore, we need to learn to be content in the moment. 

Although I didn't get to do what I wanted to do while I was off, I was thankful that I was off last week so I had the time to devote to cleaning up my yard and other things after the power came back on.  Although the lack of electricity was an inconvenience, I was thankful I still had my home and slept in my own bed.  My home had no damage and I didn't have to evacuate.  

I am just talking this morning, but I hope the message that is coming across is--- stop complaining and learn to be thankful-- IN everything gives thanks.  A heart of thanksgiving will produce peace and contentment in your life.

Have a great day.  Complaining never helps the situation.  Be thankful in spite of the situation.

(Please pray for those who were affected by the hurricane and did sustain damage.) 

For further reading:

Philippians 4:6
James 4:15
Matthew 6:34